“No, I suppose there isn’t much chance of your parents having escaped the flood.  And yet I’ve read—­in books—­”

“Oh, yes—­in books.  But this is real life, Betty.  And now, dear, I’ve told you all I know.  As I said, it shocked me when I first heard it, but I’m pretty well over it now.  Only it did startle me when I read that note over your shoulder.”

“I should think it would.  When I see Alice—­”

“Please don’t say anything to her!” pleaded Amy.  “Please don’t!  Let her see that—­that it hasn’t made a bit of difference.”

“I will.  A difference?  Why, we’ll love you all the more Amy,—­if that’s possible.”

“That’s good of you.  Now shall we—­”

“Hark, some one is coming!” exclaimed Betty, tiptoeing to the door, while Amy shrank back on the sofa.

CHAPTER VI

THE LEAKY BOAT

There was a moment of silence, and then the relieved voice of Betty was heard to say: 

“Oh, it’s Grace.  I’m so glad.  I thought—­”

“What are you doing here?” asked the newcomer.  It was evident from her rather mumbled words—­which mumbling I have been unable to reproduce in cold type—­that Grace was eating candy.

“Have some chocolate?” she went on, holding out a bag.

“Oh, Grace!  Chocolate at such a time as this!” rebuked Betty, her mind filled with the story she had just heard.

“Why, what’s the matter with the time?”

“Amy is in there,” and she motioned to the private room.

“Gracious!  Has she fainted again?”

“No; where is Mollie?”

“Coming.  There she is.  We were looking everywhere for you.  Alice Jallow said—­”

“The horrid thing!” burst out Betty.  “Why, whatever can have happened?  You look quite tragic!”

“I am.  Come in here!”

Grace advanced, and not even the prospect of hearing what she guessed was going to be some sort of a strange secret could stop her from taking another helping of candy.  Betty saw and murmured: 

“You are hopeless.”

“What’s up?” asked Mollie, gliding into the room, her dark hair straying rather rebelliously from beneath her hat.

“Come in,” invited Betty, and soon the four were sitting together, while in a sort of dialogue Betty and Amy told the pathetic little story.

“And that’s how it stands,” finished Betty.  “I wanted to do something—­or say something—­to make Alice Jallow feel—­”

“She should be punished—­we should all cut her—­she ought to be put out of school!” burst out the impulsive Mollie.  “I shall go to Miss Greene—­”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort, Billy!” exclaimed Betty, as she detained the girl, who had already started from the room.  “Amy doesn’t wish it.  Besides, I think Alice will be sorry enough later for what she has done.”

“I had rather you wouldn’t go to her,” spoke Amy, quietly.